Cannonier willing to fight Chimaev next, says June 'perfect timing'
UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier has made it clear what he wants next: Either a title shot or a No. 1 contender bout against Khamzat Chimaev.
Cannonier has been sidelined since suffering a torn MCL in October, but he said recovery is going well and that a doctor plans to clear him to fight in March. Cannonier, ranked No. 4 in the division, wants to be the first to challenge newly crowned champion Dricus Du Plessis but said he is also "definitely" willing to face Chimaev next in a five-round bout.
"If they're not gonna give me the title fight, when I come back I want the next best thing," Cannonier told InsideFighting's James Lynch. "... At this point in time, (Chimaev is) ranked No. 9. I'm down to make it happen as long as it's clear that it's a contender's match."
Cannonier said International Fight Week - which is rumored to be taking place in late June instead of the typical early July this year - would be "perfect timing" for his return. However, the 39-year-old hopes to fight "sooner rather than later" and isn't completely ruling out the possibility of competing at UFC 300 on April 13.
Cannonier said he has already resumed striking and strength-and-conditioning training and expects to start grappling again within the next month.
"I think the rumor is they're trying to put DDP on 300," Cannonier said. "I stay ready. To be honest, I'm ready to go right now."
He added: "By the time the doctor says, 'You're cleared to go,' I'm gonna be in full training, ready to get back into it, tools sharp, ready to start going. UFC 300 I would say would be close, but I wouldn't say it would be too soon. Because, again, if I get cleared in March, I'm ready to go in April."
Cannonier is coming off a dominant decision win over Marvin Vettori in a UFC Fight Night main event last June. The Arizona resident is riding a two-fight winning streak, which also includes a December 2022 split-decision victory over Sean Strickland, who lost the 185-pound belt to Du Plessis at UFC 297 last weekend.